Kangaroos head coach Kevin Walters will have plenty of big decisions to make as he heads in to the Rugby League World Cup, but none may be more important than the number seven jumper.
The orchestrator of the team, and the player who sets exactly what the attack will look like, the halfback has always been the key position on the team.
But in the modern, sped up version of rugby league, the role of the organiser, and the one who leads the kicking game, has become more important than ever before.
Walters gave himself options on last year's Ashes series, with Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses both touring, but by the time it was all said and done, only Penrith Panthers star had made it on to the field.
Things will, regardless of selection, look different in the tournament structure that the World Cup produces, but exactly who is selected, between the duo who toured, and another couple who didn't, remains to be seen.
Here is the selection state of play at halfback for the Kangaroos ahead of the World Cup that starts in Sydney on October 15.
The incumbent: Nathan Cleary
Cleary is the incumbent, having played all three games of the Ashes series in England last year, but he is no guarantee to be the man chosen for this year's tournament.
That is more down to the ideas Kevin Walters will have as he shapes his squad though, rather than anything Cleary has done well.
For all the public blustering around Cleary's representative career, he was the key man for the NSW Blues this year, leading the State to a series win against the Maroons.
Outside of Origin, and it has to be noted his Game 1 performance wasn't great, Cleary has also been fantastic at the Panthers.
The men from the foot of the mountains have won the minor premiership again despite more off-season exits, and Cleary has been a large part of the reason why.
He played well enough on the Ashes tour too, and is clearly going to be in the squad at the very least.
The big challenger: Sam Walker
Walker may not have toured on the Ashes squad last year, but he is certainly going to be in the mix when Walters sits down to pick his side for the World Cup.
What may count against Walker more than any other factor is the simple factor he is racing the clock to be fit for what could be a debut green and gold jumper.
Even if that doesn't come this year, it's going to at some point, with Walker currently demanding money that would make him the highest-paid player in the game on the back of an excellent season for the tri-colours.
If he does manage to return at the back-end of the finals and the Roosters are still alive - and it's critical to note the club haven't yet ruled him out for those potential crunch matches at the end of September or on the first Sunday in October - then he could certainly further his case to be named when the squad is announced the day after the grand final.
The other options: Tom Dearden, Mitchell Moses
There are, realistically speaking, two other options to play in the number seven jersey for the Kangaroos, and both are Origin-experienced players.
Tom Dearden probably would have been a walk-up to be included somewhere in the squad if he was fit for the last couple of months.
He is back for the finals with the Cowboys, but doesn't have a heap of footy under his belt.
Despite that, he will be in contention, with his ability to play five-eighth and halfback among other positions a major selling point.
Moses, on the other hand, is still yet to determine whether he will play for Australia or Lebanon, but toured with the green and gold for the Ashes last year.
Moses not playing finals won't help his cause to be selected, but the star Eels halfback is made for big games. He turned up whenever the pressure is on, and delivers an excellent kicking game more often than not to go with it.
The verdict: Nathan Cleary
In the same breath, this is both a tricky and easy selection for coach Walters.
You go with what you know, but understand there are enough quality contenders snapping at the heels that Cleary isn't a lock for the entire tournament to hang onto his number seven jumper if results aren't falling the right way for the green and gold.
